Letters to the Editor, April 19

It’s more than a little ironic that while the city has spent nearly half a billion dollars to expand the Moscone Center to make it more attractive to conventions, it has suffered such a loss of reputation due to the social terrorism on the streets. The city must face that it is in a “war” to save itself.

And in times of peril, the people must all do their part to save this community and the jobs that depend on tourism and convention trade.

We need volunteers in each part of the city ready to report a problem where they live or work as soon as it occurs. And the city must respond immediately and decisively to address and resolve the problem whether it be cleaning up human waste, forcibly taking a mentally disturbed person into a psychiatric treatment center, or removing the homeless lying in tents or sidewalks and placing them into shelters until other arrangements can be made.

It is no longer enough to simply coax or plead for people to get off the streets when they cannot or will not do so voluntarily.

Nick Yale, Oakland

City in decline

Regarding “Clean up S.F.’s streets, tourist industry pleads” (April 17): I applaud the fortitude of Joe D’Alessandro’s visitors bureau for highlighting San Francisco’s problems and urging that they be fixed. He cited massive homeless problems, open needle drug use, human feces, mental illness, threatening behavior, theft and trash that is everywhere. Let me add two items to his list: the ever-increasing and unpleasant traffic congestion and the fact that a few years ago the hotels and motels jointly raised their rates excessively.

I used to love San Francisco and considered it to be the best city in the world to visit. Not anymore. I used to come up from Sunnyvale four, five, six times a year for the weekend or a day; not anymore. This year, I will visit San Francisco only once. D’Alessandro said it well: “We can’t be quiet anymore.” This is very sad for me. San Francisco used to be a world-class city and I loved it. Shame on our leaders for allowing this decline. Will they fix it? I will guess not.

Robert Hoop, Sunnyvale

Profound thought

As a lifelong Democrat, I am not prone to quote Republicans. But the recent passing of former First Lady Barbara Bush reminds me of a profound thought she shared with the 1990 class in a commencement speech at Wellesley College. “At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend, or a parent.” I think this quotation should be pasted on every young person’s computer screen and iPhone.

Rod Liner, San Carlos

Impolite remarks

While I extend my condolences to the Bush family upon the death of former First Lady Barbara Bush, I’d hardly call her (as some obituaries have) plain spoken. Bush made several inappropriate and still-remembered remarks during her long life. In 1984, she said she would describe then-Vice Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro as “I can’t say it, but it rhymes with ‘rich.’” And in 2005, she commented that Hurricane Katrina refugees staying in the Houston Astrodome complex were already underprivileged, so this is working out very well for them. Bush deserves praise for her family loyalty and promoting literacy, but should also be criticized for having sometimes been out of touch and mean-spirited.

Claire Rosenthal, San Francisco

Consigliere cops

Regarding “Feds get in the way of reform effort” (Editorial, April 18): Last summer, President Trump told an audience of law enforcement officers. “Please, don’t be too nice” when arresting people, and suggested roughing up criminal suspects as they are being placed in squad cars. Thus, it should not be surprising that his administration is removing resources that would address and reform police misconduct in cities across America. Former FBI director James Comey got it right when he said that Trump is like a “mafia boss.” Apparently, he wants our police departments to simply be his “consigliere,” meting out punishment as he sees fit.

Erica Pappalardo, Millbrae

Poor handling

San Francisco’s handling of their tourist area homeless situation pretty much reflects the problem with many liberal decisions. The homeless are taking over the main tourist areas of the city with filth and aggressive panhandling, creating overall distasteful areas. Tourists are becoming more aware of and uncomfortable with this and are beginning to stay away. This is causing a growing financial hit to San Francisco’s important tourist industry. The city wants to protect the rights of the homeless, a very noble idea; however, it is protecting a small minority while causing potentially great harm to a large majority. As revenues of tourist industry businesses take a hit, employees will be laid off and the homeless problem will get worse. There must be a better way to help the homeless and return San Francisco’s image to the city that knows how.

Robert Mayne, Walnut Creek

Religious pizza pie

Regarding “Door-to-outdoor delivery” (Daily Briefing, Business, April 17): Just wondering: Now that Domino’s will be delivering to outdoor “hotspots” like the parking lot of St. Mary’s Cathedral, will they start featuring a “Papal Pepperoni Pizza”?

Didier Dubois, San Francisco

Get scooters off the sidewalk

As a pedestrian, my concern about these scooters that have appeared in the city recently is the use of the sidewalks. As it is, pedestrians have to be careful of bicyclists and skateboarders. The scooters have added one more hazard to being a pedestrian. Today, as one of these scooters came at me, I told the rider it was illegal to use them on the sidewalk. The rider stopped and threatened to punch me in the face and asked if it was my job to tell those on scooters using the sidewalk that it was illegal. I said that as a pedestrian I felt it was my job. Maybe he hadn’t realized it was illegal.

He said he wouldn’t use the street as it was dangerous. As the city has designated bicycle lanes perhaps they could designate a “pedestrian only zone.” At the very least the companies responsible for these scooters should, in large print, state they are not to be used on sidewalks. Other than that, I have no problem with them.